Medical Disciplinary Actions

The Medical Board of California licenses physicians and other medical professionals. It also investigates medical complaints and issues disciplinary actions. The most serious penalties include license revocation, suspension and probation.

These are the Los Angeles County medical professionals subject to serious disciplinary actions between May 1, 1994 and Aug. 31, 1994, according to medical board documents. Final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

DOCTORS

Chester R. Barnes M.D., Los Angeles: Conviction for illegal distribution of controlled substances. Gross negligence and incompetence in prescribing practices, including excessive prescribing and prescribing without prior exam and medical indication. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective May 25.

Dave Comar M.D., Los Angeles: Gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts by general surgeon in the inadequate diagnosis and treatment of a gunshot-wound patient admitted in the emergency room. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective July 4.

David E. Comings M.D., Duarte: Excessively prescribed controlled substances to his wife, thereby committing gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective June 3.

Jens W. Dimmick, M.D., Rolling Hills Estates: Used unlicensed persons and a licensed physical therapy assistant to perform physical therapy without proper supervision by a registered physical therapist. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective May 27.

Monica Watts Hurtado, M.D., Woodland Hills: Conviction for attempting to pass as genuine an altered prescription for Vicodin ES, a controlled drug. Heroin abuse. False documents. Diverted Demerol intended for patients for self-use. License revoked. Effective June 12.

Harold Zay Johnson, M.D., Long Beach: Disciplined by Washington State Medical Board based on alleged impairment due to alcoholism. Texas Medical Board discipline also based on above action. California license revoked. Effective May 1.

Venus Navarro Julian, M.D., Van Nuys: Gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts in the management of a patient in her eighth month of pregnancy at the emergency room. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 30 days; five years’ probation. Effective June 22.

Alan S. Lake, M.D., Long Beach: Alcohol abuse. Convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, including a felony conviction involving an injury that led to a two-year state prison sentence. Revocation of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective July 21.

Clifford Murakami, M.D., Los Angeles: Conviction for prescribing controlled drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. Indiscriminate prescribing of Valium, Fastin, Dalmane and Tylenol No. 3 with Codeine without prior exam and medical indication, constituting gross negligence, incompetence and excessive prescribing. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective June 22.

Myung K. Rha, M.D., Palos Verdes: Multiple acts of sexual misconduct with four female patients. License revoked. Effective May 17.

Michael J. Scolaro, M.D., Los Angeles: Engaged in unsupervised research for experimental treatment of terminally ill AIDS patients through inoculations under a “viruses compete theory.” He failed to follow well-established standard research protocols. He also failed to submit his research to an independent institutional review committee before conducting human experimentation. Ninety-day suspension of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective July 1.

Harold R. Sherwood, M.D., Culver City: Conviction for prescribing controlled substances without legitimate medical purpose. License revoked. Effective May 17.

Daniel M. Silver, M.D., Los Angeles: This orthopedic surgeon had a significant beneficial interest in an orthopedic brace retail shop. He failed to disclose his interest to patients he referred to this shop for knee braces, as required by state law. One-year suspension of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective Aug. 20.

Richard Wineland, M.D., Burbank: Failed to evaluate a patient in need of emergency services prior to transferring to another hospital, in violation of Health and Safety Code. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective June 13.

Stephen J. Winston, M.D., Los Angeles: Fraudulently billed insurance companies for excessive diagnostic procedures and tests that were performed without medical indication, justification or documentation. Gross negligence, incompetence, dishonesty, false documents, deceptive alteration of records. License revoked. Effective June 15.

ACUPUNCTURISTS

Sang Kook Bae, Los Angeles: Conviction for bribery in connection with payment to an official for advance answers to the 1983 state acupuncture exam. License revoked. Effective July 14.

Han Sok Cha, Los Angeles: Conviction for destroying evidence related to unlawful payment for examination answers. Eighteen months’ probation. Effective May 6.

Don Hyun Chang, Westlake Village: Unlawfully purchased examination answers to pass the 1983 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Chin Tzu Chou, Los Angeles: Conviction for destruction of evidence based on payment of money in return for advance answers to the 1988 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 14.

Ronald Chung, Pacoima: Unlawfully bought answers to pass the 1983 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Sun Joo Im, Downey: Unlawful payment for advance answers to state acupuncture licensing exam. License revoked. Effective May 26.

Chung Kyu Lee, Los Angeles: Unlawful purchase of answers to pass the 1983 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective May 16.

Hwy Zung Lee, Granada Hills: Complicity in funneling money received for answers to state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation. Effective May 6.

Kang Joon Lee, Los Angeles: Conviction for destruction of evidence related to the unlawful payment for answers to the 1988 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Kwang Ok Lee, Los Angeles: Conviction for bribery in connection with payment to an official for advance answers to the state acupuncture licensing exam. License revoked. Effective July 15.

Hyon Woo Lee, Lancaster: Unlawful payment for advance answers to 1986 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 14.

Joon Woong Moon, Gardena: Conviction of bribery involving unlawful payment to obtain answers to the 1986 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 17.

Chul Kyoo Pak, Los Angeles: Complicity in funneling money received for answers to state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 15.

Shung Uhn Pak, Los Angeles: Unlawful payment to qualify for and pass the 1983 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Un Bong Pak, Los Angeles: Unlawful payment for advance answers to 1982 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 15.

Hye Suk Park, Los Angeles: Conviction for bribery related to unlawful payment for answers for the 1985 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective May 16.

Jong Young Park, Torrance: Conviction for bribery related to unlawfully obtaining license without passing the state acupuncture licensing exam legitimately. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective May 16.

Pung Ho Shin, Norwalk: Conviction for bribery in connection with payment to an official for advance answers to the state acupuncture licensing exam. License revoked. Effective July 14.

Byong Chan Song, Los Angeles: Conspired to receive illegal assistance to pass the 1986 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Shirley Yee, Los Angeles: Unlawful payment to obtain illegal help to obtain a license. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 27.

Jung Hee Yoon, Los Angeles: Conviction for destruction of evidence related to unlawful payment for advance answers to the 1983 state acupuncture licensing exam. Eighteen months’ probation, subject to re-examination. Effective June 14.

Young Hae Yoon, Los Angeles: Conviction for bribery in connection with payment to an official for advance answers to the state acupuncture licensing exam. License revoked. Effective July 14.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Wiley D. Sutton, Lakewood: Conviction for Medi-Cal fraud. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 30 days; five years’ probation. Effective June 2.

RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS

Michael Ashanti, Long Beach: Unlawful possession of a controlled substance--rock cocaine. Completed court drug diversion program. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective Aug. 1.

William Bateman, Van Nuys: Unlawful possession of controlled drugs, including cocaine, for self-use. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective June 17.

Rajesh Prasad, Arleta: Conviction for infliction of corporal injury on a spouse. Revocation of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective July 15.

Steven P. Ronco, Torrance: Violated terms of probation of prior discipline. Tested positive for cocaine. Submitted a false statement regarding drug use. License revoked. Effective June 10.

Donald J. Sanders, Lakeview Terrace: Numerous convictions for trespass or disorderly conduct for masturbating in a public toilet. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective July 7.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.